Sheep-shearing rack



(No Model.)

(x W. PINLAY.

SHEEP SHEARING RACK. N0. 341,377. Patented May 4, 1886.

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UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. FINLAY, OF CLARK, OHIO.

SHEEP-SHEARING RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 34 l,377,dated May4,1886.

Application filed December 4, 1884. Renewed, February 20, 1886. SerialNo. 192,743. (No model.)

1' 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. FINLAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Clark, in the county of Coshocton and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheep-Shearing Racks;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a top or plan view of the rack without theadjustable table. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the table. Fig 3 is avertical section of the rack, the table being in position; and Fig. 4 isa detail.

This invention relates to sheep shearing racks; and it consists in theconstruction and novel arrangement of devices, as will be here inaftermore fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, the letters A A designate the side bars orframe, which cross each other and are pivotally connected by the bolts13, and form the sides of the rack. Each side bar has its upper portionmade in the form of an are or convex arm, 0. These arms 0 are connectedby transverse slats D, secured to their edges, forming the convexbearing at each end of the chair on which the sheep is to be stretched.The sides of the frame are connected by the rounds or bars E and F.

On the bars E rests the removable table G, which is provided with thecleats H near its ends, adapted to prevent said table from beingcasually slipped out of place. The table is shouldered at I, to fit theside bars of the convex rack at one end of the frame.

To one of the lower rounds, F, is pivoted the adjusting and holding barK, which has a series of hook-notches, L, adapted to be engaged with theopposite round, F, by which means the table maybe raised or lowered, orthe convex bearings brought more nearly into a vertical or horizontalposition, as desired, for the convenience of the operator in shearing,and to adjust the position of the animal.

P represents a strap, which extends across the upper end of one of theconvex bearings, and is adapted to hold the neck and fore legs of the.sheep down, so that it cannot rise, the hind legs of the sheep beingsecured by means of straps S at the lower lateral portions of theopposite convexbearing.

The operator stands beside the chair in shearing. The sheep is placed onthe table, its back resting on one of the convex bearings, whichsupports it in easy position, its head and fore feet under the strap I,and its hind feet he] (I by thestraps S, which presents the under sideof the animals bodyin concave form, so that the wool can be readily andclosely cut therefrom without injuring the animal.

In shearing the wool is first taken from the under side and from thebreast to the ear next to the operator. Then. the sheep is turned downon its side with its feet toward the operator, and the side which isuppermost is shorn. Then the sheep is turned on its opposite side, (thehind legs remaining secured by the straps 8,) where the shearingoperation is completed.

The table is made removable, so that it can be readily cleaned whennecessary.

Having described this invention, what I claim is 1. The sheep shearingrack having the crossed and pivoted side bars capable of adj ustmenttoward and from each other, and provided, respectively, with slattedconvex bearings at their upper portions, the holding and adjusting barpivoted to the round of one side bar and engaging the round of theopposite one, and the removable table resting on rounds of the side barsat the lower ends of the convex bearings, substantially as specified.

2. The combination ofthe adjustable crossed and pivoted side bars, ofthe rack having the slatted convex bearings at opposite movable endsthereof, the holding and adjusting bar, the removable table, and thestraps, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignaturein presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE XV. FIN LAY.

\Vitnesses:

A. J. Donn, J. S. Duncan.

